DMT lab discovered in Radford

By TRAVIS HANDY

travis@southwesttimes.com

RADFORD—Investigators with Raford City Police Department and members of the Claytor Lake Regional Drug Task Force followed tips to a residence at 421 Sanford St., Radford on March 25 to execute a search warrant in regards to illegal sale of marijuana. As a result the two agencies discovered materials associated with a DMT lab and three arrests were made.

The department made entry into the apartment in the Copper Beech community around 7:30 p.m. Monday, seizing marijuana, numerous smoking devices, over $5,000 in cash, along with “numerous items” associated with the manufacture of DMT. A DMT lab is similar in makeup to a meth lab and uses some of the same ingredients, according to a March 26 release from Radford City Police.

The police department was following drug intelligence when they executed the warrant on the residence and notified the Radford City Fire Department, according to Lt. R.A. Wilburn, “just to be on the safe side.” The fire department responded to check for hazardous materials and test for air quality. Wilburn said no apartments were evacuated and no residents were believed to be in any danger.

Two of the apartment’s residents, Casey Michael Gleich, age 19 of Radford, and Colin Parker Hope, 20 of Radford, were arrested along with Lucas Michael Nelson, 18 of Hampton. Nelson is not a resident of the apartment.

Nelson has been charged with conspiring to sell or distribute more than 1/2 ounce of marijuana and conspiring to manufacture a Schedule I or II controlled substance. He is being held at New River Valley Regional Jail on $1,000 bond.

Gleich was charged with conspiring to sell or distribute more than 1/2 ounce of marijuana, conspiring to manufacture a Schedule I or II controlled substance, as well as manufacturing a Schedule I or II controlled substance. Gleich is being held at NRVRJ on $1,500 bond.

Charges against Hope include conspiring to sell or distribute more than 1/2 ounce of marijuana, manufacturing a Schedule I or II controlled substance, distribution of more than 1/2 ounce of marijuana but less than 5 pounds and conspiring to manufacture a Schedule I or II controlled substance. He is also being held at NRVRJ on a $2,500 bond.

It is not clear whether any of the three men are Radford University students.

Comments

41 Responses to DMT lab discovered in Radford

These successful ballot measures may reflect an awareness that Prohibition has utterly failed, having gained us nothing more than systematic erosion of civil liberties and the world’s highest incarceration rate. They may reflect a realization that in these austere times, there are better ways to spend billions of dollars than on an endless “War,” in which victory is neither possible nor desired by those who fight it.

Still, Prohibition will not end quickly or quietly. The main reason is that so many people have built secure careers and boundless bureaucratic empires upon the foundation of Prohibition. Prisons overflowing with captured enemies in the Drug War are surely the only recession-proof growth industry this country is now capable of producing.

We can expect the Prohibitionists to fight back against the emerging threat. The question, then, is whether their probable attempt to “shock and awe” voters they perceive as horribly misguided will have the intended effect. Or will it will backfire, and embolden voters in other states to add their voices to the chorus demanding the end of Prohibition?

What will it take to convince those whose livelihoods depend on Prohibition to find a more useful line of work? And what actually would be a more successful way to minimize the very real dangers associated with drugs? Very hard questions!

T.D. Hunt

April 4, 2013 at 9:41 pm

I was in a “neighborhood council” meeting the other day and in the middle of a discussion on what, if anything, we should do about suspected “dope houses” I blurted out “I’m not joining The War on Drugs.” Everybody went silent and I continued “if it’s a war on people parking in my driveway or stealing my lawn mower then count me in. But, if it’s a war against people selling drugs in an orderly manner to willing customers; well I’m not going to be part of the failed policy that puts people in jail and destroys communities.” The place went quiet and then one by one all there made statements, only slightly nuanced, that affirmed that point of view.

We all need to affirm that “I’m not joining the war on drugs” to make this insanity stop.

Benjamin

April 6, 2013 at 2:52 pm

Good for you. Its a failed war that has took to many innocent victims of which I am one. I no longer smoke pot, but only because the man would destroy me if caught. It did no harm to me except for the conviction, court costs, three days in jail, humiliating drug tests(yes they watched me), lawyer fees etc…
Oh wait a sec. that was the courts not the weed. Guess pot has done no harm to me. The law and my actions(being in possession) caused me these problems.

George Harmon

April 8, 2013 at 12:18 am

For the first time since they began polling the question four decades ago, Pew Research Polling has released new survey data that reveals 52% of Americans want marijuana to be legalized. Only 45% were opposed.

This support is spread across demographics. The Baby Boomers (50%), Generation X (54%), and Millenials (65%) all have majority support for legalization. The only age demographic that remains opposed is the Silent Generation, those born before 1942, though support in this age group has also significantly increased. 32% of this age group now support legalization, up from 17% in 2002.

According to this polling data, most Americans have also tried marijuana personally. 48% of respondents answered affirmatively when asked if they consume marijuana, up from 38% about a decade ago.

Not only are Americans becoming more supportive of legalization, but there has been a dramatic change in how Americans view marijuana use. In 2006, Pew Research found that 50% of Americans believed smoking marijuana was “morally wrong” and only 35% did not think it was a moral issue. Today these numbers have completely flipped, 50% of Americans responded in this latest survey that using marijuana is not a moral issue and only 32% stated it was morally wrong.

60% of Americans across all political orientations also believe the federal government should not enforce federal marijuana laws in states that legalize it. 57% of Republicans, 59% of Democrats, and 64% of Independents believe the federal government should leave states like Washington and Colorado alone.